Although Valentine’s Day is long gone, it seems as if we are still being bombarded by blissful, romantic couples. From our commute to class to trying to enjoy a nice meal with friends at a new restaurant, we just can’t seem to escape from people who are madly in love with a special someone. The lovebirds of New York City definitely haven’t flown south for the winter.
But, there is no need to fret. Her Campus NYU totally understands what single people go through and the thoughts swirling through their heads when they encounter a couple. So, we’ve compiled a list of the nine things that only singles truly understand– the bad, the good, the real.
1. PDA
Our biggest pet peeve is when we see a couple making out (or more) while we’re waiting for the train or relaxing in Washington Square Park. Yes, everyone is free to do what they want and enjoy themselves, but sometimes it becomes uncomfortable and awkward.
2. Third-Wheeling
When a friend is going out with her significant other and asks us to tag along, we usually say yes because we want to be a good, supportive friend. Unaware of all that could go wrong, we usually end up feeling left out and lonely, especially when the couple laughs at their inside jokes or only talks to each other. It’s as if third-wheeling gives us the superpower of invisibility.
3. When Someone Talks Non-Stop about their SO
When conversations with friends suddenly revolve around their relationship, and only their relationship, it can make us feel down about the fact that we don’t have a special someone in our own lives. One-way conversations are never fun.
4. Getting Asked about Your Relationship Status
When meeting up with friends that we have not seen in a long time, it is almost a guarantee that we will be asked the big question: “Are you seeing anyone right now?”. This can become frustrating very quickly because there are so many more important and exciting things to catch up on besides our relationship status.
5. Being Left Out
From our perspective, everyone around us is in a relationship, so we think, “Where’s my significant other?”. This usually leads to stress and anxiety about not being able to find someone, which can damper your mood, attitude, and even the rest of your day.
6. Events and Holidays
Valentine’s Day definitely does not require a date. But, for other special events and holidays, it seems more fun to celebrate them with a special someone, or you may simply want someone to go to the event with so you don’t have to walk in alone
7. Pressure from Relatives
Because we are college students, some families put pressure on us about our single relationship status. We end up being constantly questioned about when we plan to enter a long-term relationship, get married, and even have grandkids. Talk about feeling pressured!
8. Missing a Best Friend
There are times when we just need to talk to someone, and we want that someone to be a person we trust and who understands our personality and values, but no one is available.
9. Worrying about Being Alone Forever
The biggest fear many of us single people have is that we will never meet our other half and end up living alone with no one to share our days, our highs and lows, and our memories with.
For some of us, being single is a lonely, stressful, and frustrating experience. But, a single relationship status is never something to be ashamed of. Remember to always remain hopeful and optimistic about what the future holds, and you may find your special someone when you least expect it.
Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9